When considering a collection, it’s often important to read the mood of the room, and at Tadashi Shoji’s Spring 2018 show the tone was set by the audience. The young actresses filling Shoji’s front row were more than eye candy; they represented a cross section of this season’s ideal customers. If Resort’s muse was Jane Birkin, Spring sees Shoji embracing the whims of young Hollywood. Television starlets Chloe Bennet and Camren Bicondova nodded their heads to the soundtrack of Bob Marley and Beach Boys standards as they took note of each floral maxi dress and sleeveless chemise. With Malibu on his mind for the season, Shoji delved into the ease of West Coast glamour, adopting a bohemian vibe that was a change of pace from the stately red carpet looks he’s famed for.

So-Cal style has many forms, but for Shoji it meant floral prints, and plenty of them. From dahlias etched on ruffled chiffon to roses woven onto peasant blouses, he covered ever possible permutation, including several pieces that suffered from an excess of blooms. The garden party drew attention away from the collection’s stronger elements; it would have been enough to focus on standouts like a canary yellow tea-length number detailed with playful tassels, or boudoir-worthy slip dresses with delicate pleats. Still, Shoji can always be counted on to create a gown with wow factor. Switching gears during the finale to introduce a series of embroidered dresses covered in celestial designs, he gave his front row reason to pull out their iPhones. Rendered in silver and gold, the elaborate constellations covering each dress provided a palate cleanser that ended things on a high note.